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Awards and Recognition

In June 2001, Free Geek founder Oso Martín was presented an E-chievment Award from the National Public Radio program, E-Town, in recognition of his work to make "a positive difference in his community and beyond."

In November 2002, Free Geek was named a Founder of the New Northwest by Sustainable Northwest. They recognize leadership in sustainable business and economic practices in the northwestern United States. Free Geek was profiled in a book published by Sustainable Northwest in May 2003.

In November of 2003, Free Geek received Honorable Mention for the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Innovation.

In 2006, Free Geek received the Association of Oregon Recyclers Annual Recycler of the Year Award, bestowed annually to recognize innovation and commitment in the field of recycling.

In 2006, Free Geek received the Mayor's Spirit of Portland Award, which "recognizes individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the community over the past year.” Other recipients included Senator Avel Gordly and Andy Nelson, Executive Director of Hands on Portland.

In 2007, Free Geek was awarded the APC Chris Nicol FOSS Prize in recognition of “initiatives that are making it easy for people to start using free and open source software (FOSS).”

In 2018, we were formally recognized by Mayor Ted Wheeler of the City of Portland for our community work in a public statement encouraging local residents and businesses to donate their electronic waste to Free Geek and support our mission.

In 2018, the Association of Oregon Recyclers named Free Geek their Recycler of the Year, awarding us the Alice Soderwall Reuse and Waste Prevention Award for our service to the community.

In 2018, we were ranked one of the 2018 “100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon'' by Oregon Business magazine

In 2019, we received an Oregon Ethics in Business Award.

In the News

In just the last few weeks, huge portions of our lives have gone online: endless Zoom meetings for work, ordering deliveries and groceries, and socializing almost exclusively over video chats. But an estimated 17% of Portlanders aren’t connected to the internet. In rural parts of the Northwest, that number balloons to nearly 40%.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned living rooms into classrooms, and dining room tables into home offices. Some people also use their devices to check up with their doctor instead of going to a clinic in person. Now more than ever, people need computers and a stable internet connection.

Technology evolves faster than a lot of us can keep up with. And, things are only going to speed up! For Tech Tuesday, Jenny and Emily welcomed Adelle Pomeroy from Free Geek, a local organization that aims to make sure no one gets left behind in a digital divide.

Adelle Pomeroy, the digital inclusion manager at Free Geek, has a goal: She wants to demystify technology so people recognize that computers are not magical. She particularly wants to reach members of the community who don't have a computer or don't have access to a computer...

If you were among the first adopters of Apple’s popular AirPods when they came out in 2016, it’s highly likely you’re already considering a new pair. With some users reporting battery life approaching just 50 percent of the advertised 5 hours after just two years of ownership, AirPods have among the highest turnover of any modern electronics device you can buy...

Internet giant Amazon opened its latest Portland engineering office with a community announcement. The Seattle company committed to fund a partnership between two well-known Portland nonprofits to teach computer skills to people escaping homelessness...

At the first “Portland Fix-it Fair” of the season, held in outer East Portland, people come to learn how to be safer, live healthier, and save money – from volunteers associated with more than 60 organizations...

Are you broke but still want to change the world? You're not alone. Luckily, making a difference is easier than ever before — especially if you don't have money. Because, in 2018, money is just one of many currencies...

For social service organizations, digital access is increasingly critical to the success of their clients, constituents, and patrons. The people they serve need it to apply for jobs, complete schoolwork, search for a home, or apply for benefits...

Broadband access and adoption are essential for full participation in our society, for education, for public health, and for public safety. But nagging gaps in broadband adoption exist in too many U.S. communities...

"One of our jobs as human beings is to help make other people smile," Cindy says as she shows me around Free Geek. Amidst the disarray of torn apart monitors, data-wiped hard drives, and ribbon cables, Cindy sits proudly at her workstation where she volunteers assembling computers as part of Free Geek’s Build Program...